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“Thanks.” I think?
The conversation stalled, and she tuned back into the governor’s speech. He’d moved on from thanking their guests to telling the story about his and Mrs. Diamond’s first meeting. As he waxed poetic about their thirty-five years of marriage with their five children standing by, she couldn’t help but think of her parents’ seven divorces. Four for Mom, three for Dad. None of them amicable.
“I love their story,” Roxanna murmured beside her. “It’s inspiring to see love so lasting.”
“They’re an exception, not the rule,” she commented with an absent glance sideways.
The woman’s brown gaze narrowed defensively. “No. Diamonds don’t divorce. It’s like the golden rule of the family. The governor’s parents have been married for fifty-five years. And each of Asher’s uncles have been married at least twenty-five to thirty years, as well.”
Honor shrugged. She didn’t begrudge any of them their happiness, but the Diamonds’ track records meant nothing to her. A few couples with long marriages were simply anecdotal no matter what type of ‘rule’ they deluded themselves with.
“Diamond men are in it for the long haul.?
??
The statement sounded like a warning, but Roxanna’s expression gave no clues, so she looked back toward the podium. Standing slightly behind the rest of the siblings, Asher’s youngest brother flirted with yet another pretty female guest as the rest of the family listened to their father’s speech.
“I doubt that one got the memo.”
Roxanna grimaced. “Merit’s a bit of a playboy, but trust me, Asher’s the complete opposite.”
As if to illustrate that point, the photographer shot his brother a glare over his shoulder that made the younger guy roll his eyes. He whispered something to the blond woman, then dutifully turned his grin to the podium as he slid his hands in his pockets.
Even from a distance, Honor could see the annoyed clench of Asher’s jaw—until he glanced her way, and his expression softened. Her pulse skipped when he flashed a quick smile. It wasn’t until after his mother stepped up to the microphone and he lifted his camera once again that she realized he’d probably been smiling at his friend, not her.
A sneak peek sideways brought her all the way around in surprise. Roxanna had faded back into the crowd as quietly as she’d appeared. Hmm. Honor faced the podium again, her mind replaying the past couple of minutes.
Odd as the exchange had been, and whatever the reasons for it, the brunette’s comments reinforced the fact she needed to shut down her insane attraction for Asher Diamond.
He was a long haul guy. She was a short-term girl.
Diamonds didn’t divorce; Hartmans always divorced.
Bottom line, neighbors, Diamonds, and long hauls were completely off-limits.
Another heat-inducing look across the room told her if presented with another moment similar to in the hallway outside his room, she wasn’t so sure she could trust her willpower or her common sense. The only way of shutting down her body’s magnetic attraction to the man was to leave now and avoid contact.
Mrs. Diamond’s announcement confirming the rumors the governor was going to run for the United States Senate prompted cheers and applause from the guests. Honor set her warm champagne on the tray of a passing waiter and started toward the French doors.
“Honor!”
Celia’s voice made her wince at her thwarted escape, but she halted and faced the bride-to-be with a warm smile.
“Mom would love it if you’d cut the cakes.”
She hesitated, only to realize she couldn’t say no. “Of course.”
Trailing after her to the dessert table, she saw Asher standing off to the side with his brother, Loyal, youngest sister, Shelby, and Celia’s fiancé, Robert. She purposely avoided looking their direction while waiting to greet his parents, all while cursing the familiar uptick of her pulse when she felt the prickling heat of her neighbor’s gaze.
The woman ahead of her moved aside, and Honor stepped forward with a smile. “Happy anniversary, Governor and Mrs. Diamond. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Thank you for staying after bringing those gorgeous cakes.” The older woman surprised her with a quick hug. “But please, it’s Janine and Mark. No need to be so formal when we’ll be working together for Celia’s wedding.”
Her heart leapt with excitement at the confirmation the job was hers. Containing her grin was impossible as she stepped back and shifted her gaze to the governor. “Best of luck on your campaign. You’ll have my vote, same as the last two elections.”
He gave her a genuine smile that crinkled the corners of his golden brown eyes. “I appreciate your support.”
Janine tucked an escaped strand of her upswept hair behind her ear as she leaned in as if to tell Honor a secret. “I know I should have some of our wedding cake, but the chocolate looks divine.”
